Penguins News

PITTSBURGH ASSIGNS KOBASEW TO WILKES-BARRE/SCRANTON

The Pittsburgh Penguins have re-assigned forward Chuck Kobasew to Wilkes-Barre/Scranton of the American Hockey League (AHL), it was announced today by executive vice president and general manager Ray Shero.

Kobasew has played in 32 games this season with Pittsburgh, including his 600th career NHL game in last night’s 3-1 win at Nashville.

Kobasew, 31, attended training camp with Pittsburgh on a professional tryout contract and signed a one-year contract with the club on October 2, 2013. He suited up for five exhibition games, tying for second on the club with two goals while posting an even rating.

Originally drafted by the Calgary Flames in the first round (14th overall) of the 2001 NHL Draft, Kobasew has played 11 NHL seasons with Calgary, Boston, Minnesota, Colorado and Pittsburgh, totaling 210 points (110G-100A), 30 power-play goals and 20 game-winning tallies in 600 career regular-season games.

The 6-foot, 192-pound forward spent the previous two seasons playing with Colorado, totaling 23 points (12G-11A) in 95 regular-season contests. His plus-6 rating in 2012-13 ranked first among all Avalanche forwards.

Kobasew enjoyed his best NHL seasons with Boston in 2007-08 and ’08-09, surpassing the 20-goal mark both years and establishing a career high with 42 points (21G-21A) in ’08-09.

A native of Osoyoos, British Columbia, Kobasew has scored 20-plus goals on three occasions, including the ’05-06 campaign with Calgay when he established career bests with 10 power-play goals and four game-winning goals.

Kobasew, who was a member of Calgary’s 2004 Stanley Cup finalist squad, has played in 44 career postseason contests, notching four goals, four assists, eight points and two game-winning goals.

Kobasew played one season of college hockey at Boston College in 2000-01, where he teamed with fellows Penguins Brooks Orpik and Rob Scuderi to lead the Eagles to a NCAA national championship. Kobasew was named Frozen Four MVP.